Canada

Travel restrictions

International regulations Statewide regulations

International Travel

All travelers entering Canada will be asked to show proof of a negative COVID-19 molecular test result within 72 hours of their scheduled deparature time. All arriving travelers must follow mandatory quarantine or isolation requirements.

The Government of Canada has issued an official global travel advisory to avoid non-essential travel outside Canada until further notice.

Canadian citizens who live in Canada should return to the country as soon as possible. However, Canadians who have symptoms consistent with COVID-19 may only enter Canada by land, rail, or sea. They may not enter Canada by air.

Canadians who currently don’t have the funds to return home may apply for an emergency repayable loan through the newly created COVID-19 Emergency Loan Program for Canadians Abroad. Contact the nearest Government of Canada office or Global Affairs Canada’s 24/7 Emergency Watch and Response Center in Ottawa at +1 613-996-8885 (call collect where available) or CAN.finances.CV19@international.gc.ca.

The Government of Canada has also issued an emergency order under the Quarantine Act that applies to all travelers arriving in Canada. See the quarantine section below for more information.

Canadians who wish to travel within Canada are currently not blocked from doing so, but will be subject to a health check prior to boarding. Those with symptoms of COVID-19 and those who have been refused boarding in the past 14 days due to a medical reason related to COVID-19 may not board.

Travelers arriving from outside Canada and are deemed safe to fly may board their connecting flights, but must go directly to their place of self-isolation for 14 days upon arrival.

Travel restrictions for people coming from outside Canada

The land border between Canada and the United States is closed for all non-essential travel.

Canada has restricted the entry of all foreign nationals. Travelers who are not Canadian citizens, permanent residents or people registered under the Indian Act may only enter Canada for essential purposes. Entrance will be denied to people traveling for tourism, sightseeing, recreation, entertainment, social visits or religious functions.

Travelers entering Canada by air or by land must provide information on their traveler contact form, which is available through the ArriveCAN mobile app, and must undergo screening by a border services or quarantine officer to assess symptoms.

Travelers who exhibit symptoms will be prohibited from boarding planes that are destined for Canada until they have waited for a period of 14 days or can present a medical certificate that confirms that they do not have COVID-19. Travelers who have been refused boarding in the past 14 days due to medical reasons related to COVID-19 may not enter the country.

Exemptions

Travelers may be considered for an exemption to border restrictions at Canada's ports of entry if they don't have COVID-19 symptoms, and their reason for travel is included in the conditions outlined in the emergency orders or on the Chief Public Health Officer's list of essential services.

There are exemptions that will allow visiting immediate family members and extended family members to enter Canada. Your family member must be a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident in order to enter Canada. For immediate family members, you'll be required to demonstrate that you plan on entering Canada for a period of at least 15 days. Extended family members have additional requirements. There are also exemptions that will allow family and friends to enter Canada for compassionate reasons.

Foreign nationals arriving from countries other than the US may also be allowed to enter Canada if their travel is mandatory, and their reason is included in the emergency order For example: an immediate family member of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident who is traveling to be with an immediate family member and is planning to stay for a period of at least 15 days. Foreign nationals who are allowed into Canada under this exemption must quarantine for 14 days. See the full list of exemptions on this page.

Quarantine policy

The Government of Canada is enforcing the Quarantine Act and requiring all arriving travelers to inspect whether they have a cough, fever, or difficulty breathing, acknowledge that they must self-isolate upon arrival, and follow their obligations under the emergency order. Violating any of these instructions upon entering the country could lead up to 6 months in prison and/or $750,000 in fines. Any person who causes risk of imminent death or serious bodily harm to another person while wilfully or recklessly contravening this act or the regulations could be liable for a fine of up to $1,000,000, imprisonment of up to 3 years, or both.

Travelers arriving in Canada with or without symptoms are subject to mandatory isolation for 14 days. Immediate medical attention will be provided if necessary when they arrive. Learn more about the best ways to undergo isolation here. Those who have symptoms but do not have a place to isolate will be required to isolate for 14 days in a designated quarantine facility.

Travelers who do not have symptoms of COVID-19 and are one of the exempt classes of people listed in the emergency order do not have to quarantine.

See the full list of quarantine requirements on this page. Travelers entering Canada through Alberta maybe eligible for reduced quarantine time if they're arriving in Canada at Calgary International Airport or the Coutts land border. They should check their eligibility with the Alberta Border Testing Pilot Program.

Destinations you can travel to now

For those destinations that may have current travel advisories issued by authorities, we’re including alerts on our site when you search that will let you know there could be an issue with your route.

Domestic travel

Public health officials have encouraged Canadians to avoid going out for non-essential reasons. However, those that go outside should maintain a safe distance of two meters (about the length of a hockey stick) from other people, and wear masks in settings where distancing isn't possible.

Grocery stores, convenience stores, pharmacies, restaurants offering takeout and delivery, some restaurants offering dine-in service, banks, laundromats, and dry cleaners are open. See this summary for detailed information about every province.

All air travelers must wear masks or face coverings except for children under two years old, people who have trouble breathing, and people who can't remove their masks without help. Operators of other federally regulated transportation methods may also require masks.

Formal restrictions on gathering in public vary between provinces, as follows:
Alberta
All indoor and outdoor gatherings are prohibited province-wide. More restrictions for businesses, including restaurants and bars, come into effect on Dec. 13: From that point, all Albertans will have to work from home unless their employers deem it necessary for them to be physically present.
British Columbia
British Columbians aren’t allowed to hold any social gatherings, of any size, with people outside their household or core bubble. Theatre performances and religious worship are suspended, but funerals, weddings and home-based personal services can continue under strict attendance limits.
Manitoba
All in-person gatherings outside the household are forbidden as of Nov. 12.
New Brunswick
In orange zones, people must observe a single-household bubble, but outdoor gatherings of up to 25 are permitted if physical distancing is in place. Yellow zones can have informal gatherings of up to 20 indoors and 50 outdoors.
Newfoundland and Labrador
Public gatherings are restricted to 50 or fewer people. Household “double bubbles” are allowed.
Northwest Territories
Public gatherings are restricted to 25 people or fewer indoors and 50 or fewer outdoors, with physical distancing. Households can have five people over (to a maximum of 10 people in the home). The government recommends having a “fave five” who can come over to limit mixing among different households.
Nova Scotia
Public gatherings like weddings, funerals, festivals, and concerts can have up to 250 people outdoors and 200 indoors at maximum half capacity. Family gatherings can have up to 50 people. Physical distancing is required at all gatherings, but Nova Scotians are allowed to form 10-person circles that can meet without physical distancing.
Nunavut
Public gatherings are limited to five people. Gatherings at home are prohibited.
Ontario
The stay-at-home order reduces the outdoor gathering limit from 10 to five and requires people to avoid contact with others except for tasks like grocery shopping, pharmacy visits and health appointments. Non-essential retail outlets (including hardware stores) can operate on reduced hours, between 7PM and 8PM.
Prince Edward Island
Households are allowed to have indoor or outdoor personal gatherings with up to 10 other individuals, and organized gatherings (including religious services) can have no more than 50 people.
Quebec
Much of southern Quebec is at the “red” alert level, which prohibits private gatherings but still allows plumbers, care workers or other permitted groups to visit people’s homes.
Saskatchewan
Private indoor gatherings are restricted to five people, and 30 indoors and outdoors for public gatherings, as long as physical distancing can be observed.
Yukon
Public gatherings are limited to 10 people or fewer indoors, and up to 50 outdoors. Social bubbles are capped at 15 people.
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Embassy and consulate contact information
Website: US Embassy & Consulates in Canada
Phone number: +1 613-688-5335

Quick answers

Yes – Canada has restricted the entry of all foreign nationals. However, Canadian citizens and permanent residents who have COVID-19 symptoms may only enter by land, rail, or sea, and not by air. More
No – there are no nationwide travel restrictions within Canada, but all travelers will be subject to a health check prior to boarding. Those with symptoms of COVID-19 and those who have been refused boarding in the past 14 days due to a medical reason related to COVID-19 may not board. More
Yes – the land border between Canada and the US is closed to all nonessential visitors. More
Only Toronto Pearson (YYZ), Montreal Pierre Elliott Trudeau (YUL), Calgary International Airport (YYC), and Vancouver International Airport (YVR) are operating international flights. Flights from the United States, Mexico, the Caribbean, and St. Pierre-et-Miquelon are exempt from this rule. Domestic flights are operating normally. More
Yes – Canada is enforcing the Quarantine Act, which requires all arriving travelers to inspect for symptoms of illness, self-isolate upon arrival, and follow other obligations stated in the emergency order. Travelers arriving in Canada with symptoms are subject to mandatory isolation for 14 days. Travelers arriving in Canada without symptoms are subject to mandatory quarantine for 14 days. More
Yes – all 13 provinces and territories have some form of regulation on public gatherings. All the country’s top public health officials have urged Canadians to avoid going out unless absolutely necessary for grocery runs, exercise, or medical emergencies. More
For press inquiries, corrections and any data-related questions, please email us at travel-restrictions@kayak.com.
If you’re looking for personalized travel advice, like whether or not you should travel, please consult your local government’s resources (we won’t be able to offer advice).